ONE-YEAR LECTIONARY ONE-YEAR SongTHE WORD IN Hymn of the Day Studies for TRINITY Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from Quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040. Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. This work may be reproduced by a congregation for its own © 2018 Used with permission. use in the study of the Scriptures. Commercial reproduction, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Lutheran Service Book Propers of the Day © 2007 Concordia or reproduction for sale, of any portion of this work or of the St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 Publishing House. Used with permission. work as a whole, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. lcms.org/worship Quotations from the Small Catechism are © 1986 Concordia Publishing House. ONE-YEAR Hymn of the Day Studies for TRINITY LECTIONARY Contents To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray . 1 A Multitude Comes from the East and the West . 3 Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared . 5 Lift High the Cross . 7 Lord, to You I Make Confession . 9 O God, My Faithful God . .11 When All the World Was Cursed . .13 Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head . .15 “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake . .17 From East to West . .19 All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall . .21 Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good . 23 In God, My Faithful God . 25 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds . 27 Christ, the Life of All the Living . 29 What Is the World to Me . .31 The Church’s One Foundation . 33 Oh, How Great Is Your Compassion . 35 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones . 37 Word of God, Come Down on Earth . 39 God Has Spoken by His Prophets . .41 Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me . 43 If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee . 45 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness . .47 What God Ordains Is Always Good . 49 Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle . .51 The Royal Banners Forward Go . 53 The Will of God Is Always Best . 55 Seek Where You May to Find a Way . 57 Lord God, to Thee We Give All Praise . 59 Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower . .61 Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart . 63 We Are Called to Stand Together . 65 O God of God, O Light of Light . 67 From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee . 69 Praise the Almighty . .71 O Christ, Who Called the Twelve . 73 Salvation unto Us Has Come . 75 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God . 77 Chief of Sinners Though I Be . 79 Who Trusts in God a Strong Abode . .81 For All the Saints . 83 In the Very Midst of Life . 85 Preserve Your Word, O Savior . 87 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near . 89 We Praise You, O God . .91 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying . 93 To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray Lutheran Service Book 768 | study by Thomas E. Lock Introduction Lutherans often are accused of speaking little of the Holy that no one knew about it, then it would be useless and Spirit. The Third Articles (Holy Spirit) of the Apostles’ and lost. So that this treasure might not stay buried, but be Nicene Creeds are shorter than the Second Articles (Christ) received and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go (LSB, p. 322–23). The focus of Lutheran preaching is Christ forth and be proclaimed (LC II 38). and His salvation of man, not the works of the Holy Spirit shown in our own works. What frequently is overlooked The task of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify us by revealing and is that whenever we speak of the Church of all believers, delivering Christ with His blessings to sinners. Our prayers we speak of the Holy Spirit. Without the work of the Holy rarely are to the Holy Spirit. Yet, in today’s hymn, we do Spirit, no one could be saved. As Martin Luther wrote in pray to the Holy Spirit that He would keep His Church — his Large Catechism: and all her members — in the true faith that is created only by the Spirit. The work of redemption is done and accomplished [John ❚ Whose work creates and sustains faith in man? Does 19:30]. Christ has acquired and gained the treasure man contribute anything to his own conversion? Why is for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, and so on it right that we pray to the Holy Spirit for faith to remain [Colossians 2:3]. But if the work remained concealed so among us? Exploring the Scriptures The Holy Gospel for the First Sunday after Trinity is the Abraham, one of the richest men in the Bible, is described parable of the rich man and Lazarus. This story is spoken as the father of all the faithful (John 8:48–58; Romans 4; against the Pharisees, who are described as “lovers of mon- Heb. 11:8–10). ey” (Luke 16:14). Read Luke 16:19–31. ❚ What riches (not money) did Abraham have that would ❚ At the beginning, how are the “comforts” of the rich gain heaven for him? man described? Could Lazarus take care of himself? ❚ The rich man is told that a great gulf separates him in Upon whom did Lazarus rely? Could it be said that torment from Lazarus in blessing. What had the rich Lazarus was placed at the rich man’s door to give him an man and his brothers not trusted? What person of the opportunity to prove his faith and love? Holy Trinity reveals and delivers to sinners Christ and all ❚ At death, where did these two men end up? Was it His blessings of forgiveness, life and salvation? What is the man’s riches or Lazarus’ poverty that determined the Church (guided by the Holy Spirit) to proclaim? their place? Exploring the Hymn Background that the Spirit guided people directly — apart from, and The anonymous first stanza of today’s hymn is a Pentecost in contradiction to, God’s revealed Word. One of the false carol from the thirteenth century. This stanza was men- teachers was Luther’s former colleague at Wittenberg, tioned twice in a sermon by 13th century Berthold of Andreas Carlstadt (c. 1486–1541). Carlstadt’s primary focus Regensburg in which he encouraged his hearers to sing this was on what the Christian did, not on what Christ had done hymn in the service on Pentecost. This encouragement is and what the Holy Spirit was doing by His Word. One of remarkable since congregational singing was rarely allowed the ways Luther confronted this false theology was by this (except for Easter/Christmas carols) in Roman Catholic hymn’s use; Luther also added three new stanzas to focus congregations. on the true work of the Holy Spirit. The singing of this stanza remained popular in German ❚ Are there false teachers in these days who emphasize the lands. Martin Luther (1483–1546) loved this stanza and work of Christians over the work of God? encouraged its frequent singing. In 1524 Luther was in the midst of theological conflicts with many who believed The First Sunday after Trinity, Pentecost Tuesday and Proper 4A | One-Year Lectionary 1 Text ❚ How was the love of Christ, bestowed by the Holy Spirit, This hymn is sung by people the Holy Spirit has already revealed in the Church? What can your congregation do brought to faith in Jesus Christ. All works apart from for those in need within the Church and for others? Christ (especially a so-called decision to believe in Christ) are impossible (see John 1:12; 15:5; and Eph. 2:8–9). As Stanza 3 calls the Holy Spirit “Comfort.” In the King James Luther teaches in the Small Catechism: “I believe that Version of the Bible, He is called “Comforter” by Jesus in I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus John 14:16, 26; 15:26 (some translations use “Helper” in- Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has stead). Read John 14:18–27. called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, ❚ Against what does the Church of all believers need sanctified and kept me in the true faith” LSB( , p. 323). comfort? What comfort does the Comforter/Helper give? The first stanza is a prayer that the Holy Spirit would keep Christians in the only true, saving faith — the faith in Previously we saw from the Small Catechism that the Holy Christ. Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps us ❚ Why do people need the Holy Spirit to be brought to faith in the true faith. Luther continued by declaring that this in Christ? What dangers in this world tempt Christians Spirit still does these things for the whole Church on earth, to depart from this faith? How does the Holy Spirit keeping her with Jesus Christ (LSB, p. 323). In this Church defend Christians from leaving the true faith? the Holy Spirit delivers forgiveness with the promise that all believers in Christ will live with Him in eternity. Stanza 2 addresses the Holy Spirit as “sweetest Love.” The ❚ How does the final stanza describe the work of the Holy Spirit is the one who makes Christians holy, granting His Spirit in the Church? fire so that we show this love to one another.